Views of the art of public speaking. Why do I have a fear of public speaking?

Understand your audience

Who are you talking to, or rather, who do you want to reach? If you are talking to a specific audience, make sure you target your speech towards them and make an effort to understand them. Think about how formal or informal you should be, and make sure you consider being inclusive and sensitive to a diverse audience. 

This means not making inappropriate jokes, speaking clearly and concisely, and trying to avoid things like sarcasm, which can cause misunderstandings. Of course, there may be some exceptions to this – for example, if you’re performing a comedy sketch.